Tuition & Aid for U.S. Citizens / Permanent Residents

Columbia GSAPP is committed to educating and supporting students pursuing careers in architecture, planning, preservation, real estate development, and related disciplines. It is our aim to provide as many students as possible with the opportunity to become successful professionals in their chosen field of study.

Direct funding at GSAPP through fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships is competitive and not available to all admitted or enrolled students. Each applicant has the opportunity to complete a scholarship application included with the application for admission. GSAPP scholarships are based on a combination of merit and financial need.

Health Services Fee is a mandatory fee for access to the University Health Service Center.

Medical Insurance Fee is a payment for those enrolled in the Student Insurance plan.

University Facility Fee is an overall fee for use of its facilities, including the library and gym.

Document Fee is a one-time payment of $105 for transcripts, which allows students to request transcripts from the Registrar's Office without further cost.

GSAPP Funding

Scholarships

GSAPP is proud to offer several million dollars annually in scholarships for both domestic and international students. All applicants who complete a scholarship application are reviewed by the admissions committee for funding. GSAPP scholarships are based on a combination of merit and financial need. In order to be considered for for a GSAPP scholarship, please complete the scholarship application in the online application.

Allocations of scholarships are based on the following criteria.

GSAPP Scholarships

Funding is determined by the Program's Admissions Committee.

All applicants, domestic and international, are eligible.

All applicants are required to complete a scholarship application that is included with the application for admission. The scholarship application must be submitted at the same time as the application for admission. The deadline is the same as the admissions deadline.

Notification of a GSAPP scholarship is included in the admission letter.

A direct tuition award is disbursed in the student's account each term by the end of the change of program period (the second week of each semester).

Full time enrollment and good academic standing are required.

Scholarship awards are for the entire duration of the degree program and will be divided and disbursed evenly for each semester. For students in the M. Arch, M.S. UP, M.S. HP, MS. CCCP and NY/Paris programs, scholarships will be disbursed evenly for the Fall and Spring semesters. For students enrolled in the M.S. AAD, M.S. AUD or M.S. RED programs, scholarships will be disbursed evenly for the Summer, Fall, and Spring semesters.

Employment Opportunities

Assistantships
GSAPP offers a limited number of merit-based teaching and research assistantships to all students enrolled in full-time degree programs. Selected recipients work as teaching assistants in exchange for tuition awards (maximum half tuition) and monthly stipends.

Tuition awards are applied directly to the student’s account. Remuneration varies based on the position and fall within the following range.
Minimum: 10 hours per week for $7,336 tuition award plus $2,060 salary.
Maximum: 19 hours per week for $13,755 tuition award plus $3,863 salary.

The assignment of assistantships is made on the basis of qualifications for each position. Because these are merit-based positions, preference is given to applicants who have experience in the course or subject matter. Students are only eligible for one position per semester. A complete list of available positions is released to all students by the Dean’s Office in June. Applications are typically due the following month and students will be notified of their candidacy in late July. Positions are typically for the Fall and/or Spring terms (Summer term appointments are rare). More information can be found on the Assistantships page.

Casual Payroll
GSAPP offers a range of hourly employment opportunities in the fabrication shop, output shop, exhibitions and events offices, and other administrative roles. Salaries are paid via bi-weekly time sheets at a rate of $14 and $15 per hour.

Work-Study
The federal Work-Study program is a form of financial assistance provided to students through part-time employment. This aid is usually $15 per hour and is awarded based on need. See the Student Financial Services Work-Study Overview for more details.

Other Benefits

Subsidized Travel
All GSAPP students receive a travel stipend to offset required studio, conference, or thesis travel. The average amount of support given is $2,412 per student.
Additionally, GSAPP hosts and funds international summer workshops. These faculty-led, non-curricular workshops take place each summer and are announced during the Spring Semester.

Computers
Each student enrolled in a design studio has 24-hour access to a dedicated computer and workspace. Computers are equipped with animation, modeling, and fabrication software and students do not need to purchase or maintain a personal computer.

Please note that although there is no official deadline for the FAFSA, Columbia University Student Financial Planning requires 4-6 weeks to prepare a Financial Aid Package. Applicants should plan accordingly if they wish to receive notice of federal funding by April 1st.

All degree candidates (including those in the M.S. AAD, M.S. AUD and M.S. RED programs that begin with the Summer semester) should complete the FAFSA application for the upcoming academic year only.

While student loans may be used to mitigate educational expenses, they are, nevertheless, loans that must be repaid after graduation or after you cease to be enrolled half­time in a degree­-granting program. For this reason, we strongly urge you to be as prudent as possible when borrowing and to understand fully the terms and conditions of any loan that you may borrow.

Students interested in additional loan funding, such as the Graduate Plus Loan should consult the Student Financial Services’ Graduate Financial Aid website in order to obtain information about private loan eligibility, borrowing limits, interest rates, fees and disbursement.

Columbia University Fellowships

Columbia University offers a limited number of need-based institutional awards for graduate students. Applications are accepted from current students or those who plan to matriculate in the Fall. The submission deadline for these awards is determined by the University Provost’s Office (typically June 1st).

Many financial resources exist in addition to those offered by Columbia University. We urge students to research outside scholarships.

Students may be eligible for a specific scholarship or grant from an outside agency. Some sources to explore are employers, unions, professional organizations, and special interest groups. Please consult the Student Financial Services’ Outside Awards page for more information.

Columbia University
Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation

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